Question
I've noticed that while many Xamarin Plugins (available at https://github.com/xamarin/XamarinComponents) support PCL and .NET Standard for cross-platform development, their "everywhere" support currently only includes Android, iOS, and UWP. This is achieved through techniques like Bait and Switch (http://ericsink.com/entries/pcl_bait_and_switch.html).
Since Tizen.NET is relatively new, most plugins don't yet support it. I'd like to discuss:
- The current state of Xamarin plugin support for Tizen.NET
- How developers can contribute by adding Tizen.NET implementations
- Ways to encourage plugin authors to add Tizen.NET support
Samsung's decision to support .NET in Tizen and provide development tools is commendable. Now it's our opportunity to help grow the Tizen.NET ecosystem.
Answer
Problem Understanding
The core issue is that while Xamarin plugins support multiple platforms through PCL/.NET Standard, Tizen.NET implementations are largely missing due to its recent introduction. This creates a gap in the cross-platform development experience for Tizen.
Solution Methods
-
Direct Contribution:
- Developers can contribute Tizen.NET implementations to existing plugins
- Follow the same "Bait and Switch" pattern used for other platforms
- Submit pull requests to plugin repositories
-
Community Engagement:
- Request Tizen.NET support from plugin authors
- Create sample implementations to demonstrate demand
- Participate in Tizen.NET forums to share knowledge
-
Awareness Building:
- Highlight successful Tizen.NET implementations
- Create tutorials for adapting plugins to Tizen.NET
- Showcase business cases for Tizen.NET support
Additional Tips
- When contributing, ensure compatibility with Tizen's security model and APIs
- Consider starting with simpler plugins to understand the adaptation process
- Join the Tizen developer community to collaborate with others working on similar challenges
